Natural coffee during pregnancy. How many cups of coffee per day can an expectant mother drink?
A long-awaited and anxious event for every woman is the news of pregnancy. It brings great joy, but at the same time it turns your usual life upside down, even changing your diet. From this moment on, the woman becomes responsible not only for her health, but also for the intrauterine development of the baby. Pregnancy entails many prohibitions and sometimes you have to give up even your favorite drinks. The pressing question remains: can pregnant women drink coffee, because it has many positive properties, but at the same time it can be harmful to the health of mother and baby.
The effect of coffee on the body of the expectant mother
Coffee is known, first of all, for its tonic effect - it helps many people wake up and cheer up due to the hormone serotonin, which is part of the hormone. Pregnant women often lack energy, so a cup of aromatic drink becomes a real salvation. Most doctors believe that if a woman was an avid coffee drinker before conception, then it is not necessary to completely give up coffee - it is enough to reduce the frequency of consumption.
Coffee affects blood pressure, increasing it, and at the same time constricts blood vessels, which can be harmful to hypertensive patients. High blood pressure can cause the development of a dangerous complication - gestosis. Therefore, if pregnant women show signs of such a problem, drinking the drink is strictly prohibited. For hypotensive people, this property is not dangerous, but even in them, frequent pressure surges lead to increased stress on the cardiovascular system.
Not only does the expectant mother have unstable hormonal levels, but caffeine also leads to mood swings
Another reason why pregnant women should not drink coffee is its diuretic effect. When carrying a baby, the uterus begins to grow and puts pressure on the bladder, which naturally leads to an increase in the frequency of urination. Drinking coffee in large quantities, the urge to go to the toilet becomes even more frequent, which threatens to disrupt the water-salt balance. In addition, this drink quickly removes calcium from the body, which is so necessary to maintain the health of the mother and the formation of the correct bone skeleton of the baby.
The harm of coffee also manifests itself in increased stomach acidity. In general, this drink should not be drunk on an empty stomach without first having breakfast. In Russia, it is fashionable to start your day with an invigorating cup of coffee. Such a habit can lead not only to disruption of the digestive process, but also to the development of peptic ulcers. For pregnant women, drinking a cup of drink on an empty stomach can increase toxicosis and heartburn.
Harm from coffee for a baby
The baby receives intrauterine nutrition from its mother. When caffeine enters her body, it is instantly absorbed not only into her blood and internal organs, but also into the placenta. This substance leads to a narrowing of the placental vessels, which means the baby will experience oxygen starvation and a lack of nutrients. A woman should understand that drinking coffee during pregnancy can be done in strictly limited quantities, and excessive consumption of the drink threatens to delay the development of the child.
Some studies show that drinking the drink during pregnancy leads to the birth of babies with a weight loss of 100-200 grams. Apparently, this is directly related to the lack of intrauterine nutrition, which is caused by caffeine entering the placenta.
You should not drink coffee because it stimulates the nervous system. This negatively affects not only the mother’s body, but also the formation of the baby’s nervous system.
The leaching of calcium from the body by caffeine has a detrimental effect on the formation of the fetal bone skeleton
Coffee in early pregnancy
Particular attention is paid to studying the effects of coffee in early pregnancy. During this period, the formation of the child’s internal organs, as well as the systems of his body, occurs. Caffeine increases contraction of the heart muscle, which can lead not only to developmental delays, but also to fetal death.
A seemingly harmless drink increases the tone of the uterus, which means a threat to pregnancy and a 60% chance of miscarriage. And even if there is a successful outcome, coffee during early pregnancy can cause the following harm:
- Lack of calcium during the formation of the child’s skeleton.
- Risk of developing diabetes.
- Tendency to nervous overexcitation.
- Intrauterine heart rhythm disorder.
- Lack of nutrients.
Scientists also confirm the fact that it is harmful to drink the drink during preparation for conception. Studies have shown that among those women who cannot get pregnant for a long time, a large percentage are avid coffee drinkers.
When preparing for pregnancy, it is better to give up coffee altogether or at least reduce the number of cups per day to a minimum.
However, despite the obvious “cons”, there is no single point of view among doctors on the question of whether it is possible to drink coffee during pregnancy. After all, both the quality of the drink consumed and its quantity are of great importance. Danish scientists, after conducting research, made a clear conclusion that a woman can drink 2-3 small cups of coffee a day without harm to her health. However, it is important to understand exactly how much caffeine is acceptable in a daily dose.
What dose of coffee is acceptable?
The World Association of Gynecologists has concluded that a safe dose of caffeine for a healthy woman is 200 mg. The difficulty is that the content of this substance varies greatly depending on the type of coffee and the type of drink being prepared. Therefore, it cannot be said with certainty that you can limit yourself to drinking two cups a day.
Black coffee contains the most caffeine, and the amount depends on the type of bean. One cup of prepared Arabica contains from 45 to 60 mg of the substance, while Robusta will give the drink 170-200 mg of caffeine.
Instant coffee is generally contraindicated during pregnancy. Although the caffeine content in it varies from 60 to 80 mg, it has an increased concentration and acidity, which negatively affects the digestion of the expectant mother. In addition, low-quality grains are used for the soluble analogue, and to enhance the taste properties, the manufacturer is forced to add synthetic flavors.
Green coffee can be a good alternative. Since its grains are not processed, they retain maximum benefits, including essential fatty acids. By preparing coffee beans, you can adjust the degree of roasting and, accordingly, the amount of caffeine in the future drink.
Please note that caffeine is also found in other products: cocoa, chocolate, Coca-Cola, teas
To find out how much coffee a pregnant woman can drink, remember the permissible amount of the following drinks:
- 94 ml espresso.
- 1 liter of black tea.
- 200 ml cappuccino.
- Two Americanos.
Coffee with milk
The strength of the drink can be minimized using additives. For example, make it a rule to drink coffee with milk. These two components combine perfectly with each other. Milk is a source of protein and calcium, which are needed for the formation of the baby's bone skeleton, and coffee, in turn, helps the body digest lactose. Therefore, coffee with milk during pregnancy in reasonable quantities is not contraindicated.
Decaffeinated coffee
Some people resort to cunning and use it during pregnancy. In fact, such a drink is a marketing ploy. It still contains caffeine, just in smaller quantities - from 9 to 12 mg.
On the one hand, decaffeinated coffee is more preferable during pregnancy, but to extract this substance from it, chemical compounds are used that can negatively affect the health of the pregnant woman.
Which drink do you prefer?
The desire to drink a cup of coffee is not accidental. Often, such cravings indicate a lack of minerals in a woman’s body:
- Gland.
- Phosphorus.
- Sulfur.
Don’t ignore your desire, just replace the coffee drink with alternative ones:
- Chicory is the most similar in taste and color to coffee. It is not only not harmful, but also beneficial for a pregnant woman. Chicory increases hemoglobin, cleanses blood vessels and the liver, and calms the nervous system.
- Herbal teas – these can be combined with lemon and honey. Rose hips, lingonberries, mint, and raspberry flowers are perfect for preparing it.
- Cocoa - unlike coffee, contains a minimal amount of caffeine, but perfectly restores strength, improves mood and has a beneficial effect on the digestive system.
As a result, it is impossible to give a clear answer to the question of whether coffee can be consumed during pregnancy. It all depends on many factors, including the health of the mother herself. But you should definitely limit the number of cups per day and consume only high-quality varieties in order to receive only benefits from the drink.
Hello to all coffee lovers =) I have repeatedly been asked whether expectant mothers can drink coffee or not, and if so, how much and is it worth replacing it with another drink? I myself always drank brewed coffee and something stronger))) when I found out about my interesting situation, I, like any coffee lover, was faced with the following question: can I drink coffee?? I found one article that will be useful to everyone who is concerned about a similar question =)
Coffee during pregnancy - how much can you drink?
Is it possible to drink coffee during pregnancy? Is it capable of harming an unborn child? These questions are asked by many expectant mothers who cannot imagine a day without this hot drink. In pregnant women, the metabolism of caffeine is significantly slower, so they retain it longer. In addition, its metabolites freely pass through the placenta to the fetus. However, this does not mean that pregnant women should give up such an invigorating, aromatic drink 100%. It is recommended that they only limit the consumption of caffeine contained in it.
Is coffee harmful to an unborn baby?
There have been many studies that evaluate the effects of drinking caffeinated beverages on various parameters related to pregnancy and fertility (ability to become pregnant). Their results confirm that moderate caffeine consumption is safe for both early and late pregnant women and their fetuses. In addition, a study by American scientists did not reveal any relationship between caffeine consumption, the course of pregnancy and the occurrence of congenital anomalies in the fetus.
The safe maximum dose of caffeine during pregnancy is 200-300 mg per day. This means that you can drink no more than 2-3 cups of not very strong coffee per day.
There was also no relationship between caffeine consumption, the frequency of miscarriages and impaired fetal development. However, these studies do not extend to high intakes of the substance. What if the expectant mother drinks coffee without regret? Some research suggests that caffeine in large quantities may be harmful to a pregnant woman and her unborn baby. However, the exact mechanism of the negative effect of caffeine on the fetus and the course of pregnancy has not been explained. It is assumed that caffeine, by increasing the concentration of catecholamines (a type of biologically active substances), can disrupt placental blood flow and the transport of nutrients going to the fetus. Among the negative consequences of its high consumption on a pregnant woman are, first of all, an increased risk of low birth weight in newborns, miscarriages and premature births.
In addition, excess caffeine negatively affects the nervous system of a pregnant woman, increases blood pressure and irritates the stomach, causing heartburn and even nausea. Having a diuretic effect, it also causes the leaching of magnesium and calcium from the body. And pregnant women are already deficient in this element - the child receives calcium from the mother’s body to build bones. Drinking large amounts of coffee also reduces the absorption of iron from the gastrointestinal tract; women during this period already suffer from anemia.
Caffeine content in some types of coffee
The caffeine content in a serving of coffee depends on the degree of roasting and grinding of the coffee beans, the amount of the brewed product and the preparation method. The caffeine content in a cup (160 ml) of finely ground brewed coffee poured with boiling water averages 74 mg of caffeine, and the same serving of instant drink contains 117 mg. And in a 190 ml cup (more familiar to most of us) of brewed coffee there is 85 mg of this substance. In turn, 200 ml of decaffeinated coffee contains 4 mg. Find out why natural coffee is healthier than instant coffee. In addition, keep in mind that caffeine is found in tea, energy drinks, Coca-Cola, and even chocolate and cocoa.
What to drink instead of coffee during pregnancy?
Good substitutes for the natural type of this drink during pregnancy are eraz coffee and decaffeinated coffee. But it is not recommended to use soluble chicory as an alternative, as it has contraindications during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you replace coffee with tea, you should be careful. The caffeine content in strongly brewed tea leaves is comparable to that in ground coffee. Although this element has a much gentler effect on the body in tea.
Ersatz is a concept meaning a cheaper or more accessible analogue. It appeared during the First World War, and rather meant a surrogate. In the case of coffee, it is primarily chicory root and roasted barley. Find out in more detail about what you can do as a tasty and healthy substitute for coffee.
If, however, you cannot completely give up real aromatic coffee during pregnancy, then you should add milk to it. This will reduce the oxidizing effect of caffeine. You also need to remember about the correct brewing method - it is better not to cook it in a Turk and not to choose instant powder, as this will contain the most caffeine and harmful substances. It is best to make espresso, although this requires a coffee machine or espresso maker. It is also useful to know that the amount of caffeine content in ground beans using a coffee grinder at home is lower compared to what is sold already ground in the store.
Coffee is considered perhaps the most popular drink in the world. He won mass recognition several centuries ago and from the moment he met the man he only expanded his circle of fans. The scale of its production also grew. As long as this aromatic drink has existed, there have been debates regarding its benefits and harms. It is known that it has many medical contraindications, so it is not surprising that pregnant women should also avoid it.
Coffee is harmful - is it a myth?
Why shouldn’t pregnant women drink coffee and is this really true? Some consider this statement to be a prejudice in the area of “why pregnant women can’t cut their hair and knit.” Although you should not confuse folklore and really real facts, which great minds of science and luminaries of medicine have been studying for years. Of course, nothing bad will happen from one cup of coffee to either the mother or the child. In addition, there are many skeptics who unanimously claim that they personally drank coffee throughout pregnancy (or know of such cases) and gave birth to absolutely healthy children.
But alcoholics and drug addicts also do not always give birth to defective children. If there is even a shred of doubt, even if you don't know for sure why pregnant women shouldn't drink coffee, it's wiser to play it safe. It’s better to endure without your favorite drink for only 9 months, so that you can then enjoy your happy motherhood for the rest of your life.
How does caffeine affect the fetus?
The main reason why pregnant women should not drink coffee is, of course, its harm to the health of the unborn child. Therefore, taking risks only for the sake of one’s own whim is at least selfish. Some argue that coffee is harmful only in the first trimester of pregnancy, others are of the opinion that the greatest danger awaits in the last. But all experts, without exception, share the same point of view as to whether coffee is harmful for pregnant women.
Caffeine is sometimes compared in its effects to amphetamine. It also causes a specific addiction and instantly enters the blood, brain and all human organs. And if the fetus also receives the same nutrition. You should not drink coffee either while pregnant or while breastfeeding. It is a mistake to believe that pregnant women can. This name is only conditional, since the drink still contains caffeine, just in smaller quantities. A woman must understand that almost everything that enters her body also enters the child’s body through the placenta. Caffeine constricts the placental vessels, which causes the baby to experience oxygen starvation and not receive enough nutrients that it needs for full growth and development constantly.
Nervous system and skeleton
Caffeine excites and this negatively affects the development of the fetus. This condition in itself can disrupt the sleep of any person. And for a pregnant woman this can result in insomnia, fatigue, and frequent mood swings. But there are also more serious explanations for pregnant women. Even a slight excess of the normal dose of coffee affects the nerve cells and the general functioning of the mother’s body. And her innocent love for the ancient drink affects the child’s nervous system and skeleton.
According to research and medical observations, coffee helps remove calcium from the body. While this may not have much effect on the well-being of a healthy person, a deficiency of calcium and minerals has a detrimental effect on a child in the mother’s womb, whose skeleton is at the stage of formation. The fetus receives all these elements from the mother. Even if she eats well, large doses of caffeine will prevent the normal absorption of microelements and vitamins from food.
A blow to the body
Why shouldn't pregnant women drink coffee? Regardless of whether it is natural or soluble, for pregnant women this drink is even fraught with disorders of the internal organs. Thus, due to excessive coffee consumption, kidney function and urination frequency significantly accelerate. The kidneys already endure a lot of stress during pregnancy, especially in the last trimester. Because of this, swelling often occurs, there is an increase in blood pressure and a number of related problems. A woman should strive to minimize this process, and not aggravate it. Both your general well-being and the ease of getting through the entire pregnancy period depend on this. And if she has previously had problems with her kidneys, it is better to give up coffee altogether (and not only during the period of bearing a child).
Constant monitoring of blood pressure is very important for pregnant women. Aromatic drinks not only increase it, but also cause rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath. At the same time, the secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach increases, which affects its mucous membrane. Heartburn during pregnancy is an almost banal phenomenon that plagues women around the clock. Coffee is one of the causes of this disease.
Conception and gestation
Experts working with problems of conception and the inability of women to carry a pregnancy have come to the conclusion that coffee plays an important role in this matter. Their observations showed that coffee drinkers have a harder time getting pregnant than women who prefer other drinks. Therefore, even at the stage of planning motherhood, it is recommended to give up coffee. Or at least significantly reduce the number of cups you drink per day.
Why shouldn't pregnant women drink coffee? It is possible that, if she keeps this seemingly harmless habit, a woman will lose her child at an early stage, because due to the increased tone of the uterus, miscarriages often occur. The risk of premature birth among those who drink three (or more) cups of coffee daily is 60 percent higher than among women who give it up.
The main thing is a sense of proportion
When understanding why coffee is harmful to pregnant women, it would be dishonest to ignore the question of what dose is considered abuse. Of course, in moderate quantities, the harm from this drink is not so serious and is fraught with consequences for the woman herself and for her unborn baby. So how much coffee can pregnant women drink? Even 2 cups a day is already a lot! Those who are so attached to him that even fear for their own child does not become a motive for complete refusal are allowed to pamper themselves sometimes, but not more than once a week. However, it is still recommended to avoid large portions and high strength of the drink.
Is it possible for pregnant women? It is known that instant analogues cannot compare with real brewed coffee beans. But many people choose them, believing that this drink is less strong, contains less caffeine, and therefore is not so harmful. In reality, this is not the case. Being pregnant, women should give preference to natural products, without any impurities or additives. This also applies to coffee. If it will be present in your life at least once a week, make sure that it is a really high-quality variety.
Fighting caffeine addiction
It is unlikely that even the most desperate coffee fans will disagree with the fact that a beloved child is still more expensive than a favorite drink. But it’s easy to say, but not always easy to do. People who are used to starting the morning with a cup of espresso, having lunch with it, having dinner and going to sleep will not be able to endure several days to get another aromatic charge of vivacity. Moreover, if your favorite drink is very close, at arm’s length, how can you resist the temptation?
In such cases, a cup a week is not a solution, but rather torture and additional daily stress due to such a strict restriction. It is unlikely that you will be able to adhere to the rules. Doctors advise getting rid of addiction and temptation in one fell swoop by eliminating coffee from your diet altogether. Just ban it from yourself, like alcohol or spicy food. As practice shows, getting rid of it by completely abandoning it is much easier than gradually weaning it off. In order to somehow smooth out this period, it is necessary to replace the drink with another drink, for example, instead of a cup of coffee - a glass of still water.
Coffee and more
In addition to coffee, it is recommended to avoid black tea during pregnancy; it also contains caffeine. Of course, not completely, but it is better to brew weak tea or add milk to it. Cocoa, unfortunately, is also partially prohibited for pregnant women. This sweet drink is an allergen, like chocolate, and also does not have a very beneficial effect on the absorption of calcium. This list also includes green tea, which, even with a low percentage of caffeine, is fraught with considerable danger. It is known that excessive love for it leads to loss of calcium and joint pain even in absolutely healthy people. And pregnant women already give a lot of their own body’s resources to the growing baby. Of course, if you have to choose from three evils, then green tea is the least. It contains a lot of vitamins and useful microelements, so you can drink it, the main thing is not to forget about a sense of proportion.
What can you drink?
Of course, among hot drinks, fruit tea is more preferable, but not in bags, but from real dried fruits. It is better to replace carbonated sweet drinks with still water and fresh juices from vegetables and fruits. Homemade compotes, fruit drinks, kefir and milk are not forbidden, and even recommended. Based on this, the answer to the question of why pregnant women should not drink coffee becomes obvious. After all, not only coffee, but anything that brings less benefit than harm is undesirable to consume throughout the entire period of bearing a child. Adherents of a healthy lifestyle can easily do without coffee, soda, unnatural food and drink every day. Perhaps you will join their ranks along with your whole family. And you will continue to take care of your health even after giving birth.
The love of coffee accompanies many of us throughout our lives. But there are situations in which the question of the effect of your favorite drink on the body becomes especially important. Is it possible to drink coffee during early pregnancy, and what are the consequences of drinking an invigorating drink for the expectant mother? The question is important and relevant, so we devote a separate material to it.
How does coffee affect fetal development?
The development of a child is inextricably linked with the state of the mother’s body. Summarizing the complex system of gestation, we can say that the little person consumes everything that the mother does. Let's look at the scientific facts about the effect of caffeine on the developing fetus.
- Caffeine can cause the fetus to have a faster heart rate. The smaller the mass of the embryo, the sooner this will happen. Therefore, it is in the early stages of pregnancy that caffeine forces the little heart to work at maximum capacity.
This is dangerous for the development of tachycardia and heart rhythm disturbances in the unborn baby.
- The diuretic effect of coffee quickly removes useful substances from the body and - especially - minerals and trace elements supplied with food.
Why is this dangerous? The baby simply does not get the required amount of nutrients; they do not have time to be absorbed, being washed away faster than nature intended. Particularly dangerous is the loss of calcium, the level of which determines the formation of the child’s skeletal system.
- Excessive coffee consumption causes fluid to be eliminated faster, which disrupts the uniform flow of blood to the placenta.
- Caffeine imbalances the nervous system of a tiny fetus.
This is dangerous by disrupting the normal formation and development, as well as the subsequent functioning of the baby’s body.
- The small size of the fetus in the initial phase of its development prevents effective and natural detoxification.
Why is this dangerous? The fetus may not be able to cope with the caffeine that enters the tiny body from the mother; the consequences can be very different - from increased heart rate to disruption of the formation of the basic systems of the unborn child.
How does coffee affect a mother's well-being?
Pregnancy is not only the greatest happiness, but also a serious burden on the female body. He is in a state of permanent stress and reacts completely differently even to familiar stimuli. How does coffee affect a pregnant woman?
- Blood pressure readings may change much more than before pregnancy. Excess caffeine can increase the blood pressure of an expectant mother.
- The diuretic effect of coffee removes water from your body, and with it minerals and trace elements, which are already in short supply in a pregnant woman.
- Caffeine activates the nervous system and can cause insomnia by disrupting the mandatory sleep schedule that pregnant women must adhere to.
Even if you are used to drinking strong black coffee, and your reactions to it have always been normal, do not forget that your body is working at its limit. Any additional impact could throw him off balance.
- Excess caffeine creates additional stress on a woman’s cardiovascular system, can increase heart rate and even provoke heart rhythm disturbances.
- Coffee stimulates muscle tone; regular abuse of the drink can cause labor to occur too early. Studies have shown that three servings of coffee a day, taken regularly, increases the risk of premature birth by 60%.
Instant coffee in the early stages
All the negative effects of caffeine on the fetus and on the maternal body were discovered precisely by the example of drinking instant coffee. Therefore, this type of drink is especially not recommended in the early stages of pregnancy. There are still a number of questions regarding the effects of instant coffee that are just waiting to be studied.
- How safe is the chemical component of instant coffee used in the technological process in early pregnancy?
To enhance the taste, soluble granules are treated with various substances - flavors, flavor enhancers, stabilizers. Their exact compositions are kept secret, citing trade secrets.
- It has been proven that instant coffee causes serious disturbances in the digestive system of even a healthy person. We were unable to find data on the effect on the gastrointestinal system of a pregnant woman, but it is unlikely that they will differ for the better.
Instant coffee is contraindicated for women in early pregnancy.
Coffee with milk in early pregnancy
Coffee additives reduce the caffeine content in your cup and also neutralize its effects.
- Milk or cream reduces the alkaloid content in the drink by 20%.
All coffee additives, except spices, soften the effect of caffeine.
- Some doctors allow you to drink a cup of weak natural coffee diluted with milk in the morning. The drink should be consumed only after meals, but not on an empty stomach.
In the early stages of pregnancy, the generally safe amount of caffeine is up to 200 mg, that is, approximately two cups per day.
Decaffeinated coffee
The habit of coffee can be quite strong, so many drink lovers try to switch to its decaf version. How reasonable is this?
- Decaffeine-free infusion of coffee beans contains a reduced percentage of the alkaloid. Depending on the variety - from 0.5 to 1.5%. Therefore, a small dose of caffeine will still enter the body.
- If you decide to have a cup of this drink, choose natural coffee, ground, not instant. This way you will avoid additional exposure to chemicals.
- Before drinking even decaffeinated coffee, it is better to consult your doctor.
The effect of coffee on a woman’s body is very individual, and even if all your friends drank the drink freely and “had nothing to do with it,” it is not at all a fact that you will have a similar reaction.
Conclusion
Based on the information collected, some conclusions can be drawn.
- You should not drink instant coffee in the early stages of pregnancy.
- Before drinking natural coffee, you should consult your doctor.
- Having received the medical “go-ahead”, choose natural coffee, prepare it weak, drink it with milk or cream, and always after meals.
- Doctors call a generally safe dose of caffeine for pregnant women up to 200 mg of caffeine per day. This corresponds to 2 cups of natural coffee.
In our opinion, in the early stages of pregnancy it is better to completely exclude coffee from your diet, as well as other overly stimulating drinks - strong black tea, sweet soda containing caffeine. Responsibility for the health of the unborn baby requires the mother to pay close attention to diet and eating behavior.
In the first trimester, all the most important systems of the child’s life are being formed, so the correct lifestyle of the expectant mother during this period is crucial.
You should not risk your nascent life for the pleasure of drinking a cup of your favorite drink. Coffee will return to your life after a few months of hiatus, and you can enjoy it with a clear conscience.
Is it possible to drink coffee in early and late pregnancy? Will this drink harm the child's health? Doctors' opinion.
Coffee has a unique and incredibly attractive aroma that can evoke an almost irresistible desire even in pregnant girls to take at least a few sips. Most women try to replace natural strong coffee with lighter drink options - for example, instant coffee bags. But even light coffee causes concern among doctors who monitor the course of pregnancy.
There is an opinion that, provided that this drink is consumed in moderation (no more than 2 cups per week), there is no harm to the health of the mother and child. But doctors also recommend completely abstaining from coffee during pregnancy. However, there is no consensus on this matter.
Coffee during early pregnancy
Many girls believe that in the early stages of pregnancy the fetus has not yet begun to form, which is why the use of medications and certain foods does not have much effect. But this opinion is erroneous, since at all stages of pregnancy, from the moment of conception, it is necessary to pay special attention to your own nutrition and the medications used.
Before deciding whether drinking coffee during pregnancy is safe or not, you should familiarize yourself with the main properties of this drink:
- Coffee gives you a feeling of vigor, an influx of energy and strength.
- It has a stimulating effect on memory.
- Attention and concentration are enhanced and improved.
- Helps lift your mood, get rid of weakness, fatigue and lethargy.
- It has a stimulating effect on the metabolic process in the body.
- Helps quickly get rid of drowsiness.
Is it possible to drink coffee with milk during pregnancy?
In some cases, during pregnancy, women prefer a coffee drink with added milk. But few people think about whether this combination is beneficial or harmful. Of course, milk is very beneficial for the female body during such a period, as it contains calcium, which is necessary for the formation of the child’s joints and bones.
Milk has a mitigating effect on the negative effects of coffee on the body of a pregnant woman. That is why, if you drink a moderate amount of coffee in combination with milk, no more than once a week, no harm will be done to the child’s health. However, you should first consult with your doctor who is monitoring the course of your pregnancy.
Why is coffee prohibited during pregnancy?
Doctors have the following opinion on this matter:
- In some cases, coffee drinks can cause constipation.
- Coffee provokes feelings of increased anxiety and irritability.
- Sleep disturbance occurs and insomnia develops.
- Coffee increases blood pressure, which is very dangerous during pregnancy, both for the woman and the health of the child.
- This drink causes uterine tone, which increases the risk of miscarriage.
Coffee in the 1st trimester of pregnancy
During the first trimester of pregnancy, many women suffer from such an unpleasant phenomenon as toxicosis, which is very difficult to get rid of. At the same time, a constant feeling of nausea bothers me, which is why I cannot eat many foods that I used to love very much. During this period of pregnancy, in some cases, doctors recommend drinking coffee drinks with added milk. However, during preparation, the amount of coffee is significantly reduced.
Coffee in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy
In the second trimester of pregnancy, the fetus is more mature, and the risk of premature termination of pregnancy is significantly reduced. But this does not mean that coffee can be consumed in large quantities.
As a result of the accelerated growth of the fetus, more calcium is required for the formation of its skeleton. Excess caffeine has a diuretic effect, as a result of which calcium is washed out of the female body, which negatively affects the development and growth of the child.
Excessive coffee consumption can lead not only to calcium deficiency, but also to more serious problems in the child, such as heart problems and high blood pressure in women.
Coffee in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy
In the third trimester of pregnancy, the fetus is more developed and formed, which has a certain impact on the general condition of the woman and the unborn child. The load on the mother’s body increases every day, so it should not be aggravated by external factors. Therefore, during the third trimester of pregnancy, coffee consumption should be moderate.
If complications such as high blood pressure, malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract and liver, or heart rhythm disturbances do not occur, it is allowed to consume the coffee drink in strictly limited quantities.
If the course of pregnancy is disrupted, it is recommended to completely abandon coffee in any form and replace it with weak black or green tea. The acceptable amount of coffee in late pregnancy is a small cup of a weak drink once a week. It is not recommended to drink coffee in the morning on an empty stomach, otherwise there is a risk of causing serious stomach problems.
Coffee has a diuretic and tonic effect, which is why, in the presence of hypotension and the accumulation of excess fluid in the body, drinking coffee will help partially solve this problem. But only a doctor monitoring the course of pregnancy can give recommendations on the dosage and intake of coffee.
How coffee affects pregnancy: doctors' opinion
Coffee and other products contain caffeine, which is a natural stimulant of the nervous system. If coffee is consumed in moderation, you can get rid of drowsiness, increase activity and improve performance. But during pregnancy you need to be extremely careful with this drink. During this period, global hormonal changes begin in the female body, which has a direct impact on the state of the nervous system.
This goes away completely painlessly with small doses of caffeine, but excessive coffee consumption leads to severe irritability, problems with blood pressure and loss of sleep. Caffeine also has diuretic properties, so if there is an excess of it in the body, there is an increased load on the kidneys.
Drinking large amounts of coffee during pregnancy negatively affects the development and growth of the fetus. There is a risk of developing the following problems:
- Fetal growth retardation and arrhythmia. In adults, caffeine can cause the development of arrhythmia, but for the fetus this problem can become critical, since its pulse reaches 140 beats per minute.
- Giving birth to an underweight child.
- Freezing of the fetus. As a result of taking a large amount of caffeine at one time, there is a risk of death for the child.
- In the human body, caffeine provokes the activity of the stress hormone. During pregnancy, this may cause insufficient blood volume to reach the placenta, which provokes fetal hypoxia.
When do you need to give up coffee completely?
If there are no pathologies during pregnancy in the mother and there are no problems in the development of the fetus, coffee poses absolutely no danger. Most importantly, you must adhere to the drink rate recommended by your doctor.
You should completely give up coffee and any coffee drinks in the following cases:
- If you drink coffee 3-4 times a day, the risk of developing hypertension increases, which poses a threat of miscarriage.
- It is necessary to completely exclude any coffee drinks from the diet if you have liver and stomach diseases.
- A contraindication to drinking coffee is iron deficiency anemia. If you neglect this advice, there is a risk of developing fetal hypoxia and other intrauterine pathologies.
- As a result of caffeine abuse, heart rhythm disturbances may occur, manifested in the form of tachycardia and arrhythmia.
Instant coffee during pregnancy
Recently, due to the ease of preparation, instant coffee has become very popular. But in such drinks the proportion of natural coffee beans is minimal. To prepare instant coffee, a kind of crystallized mass is used, which is strongly brewed from coffee beans whose quality is too low for sale.
Often, a large number of not only flavorings are added to instant coffee, but also other additives that can be completely safe for health. However, given the stress placed on the body during pregnancy, it can cause quite serious problems. In addition, no one can guarantee the quality of the powder from instant coffee bags.
Therefore, it is not recommended to drink instant coffee even in minimal quantities during pregnancy. If it is difficult to completely give up coffee, it is better to opt for high-quality beans that are crushed and used to make coffee.
Coffee while planning pregnancy
It is necessary not only to drink a moderate amount of coffee or completely abstain from this drink during pregnancy, but also when planning a pregnancy. This recommendation applies to both women and men, because expectant fathers should also pay increased attention to their health.
Scientists have conducted a number of studies, according to which they were able to establish that drinking large amounts of caffeine (about 10 small cups per day) can reduce the risk of infertility in men by 25%.
However, caffeine abuse has a negative effect on the quality of sperm in men, including the amount of sperm production. These factors negatively affect the reproductive functions of the stronger sex.
If a woman constantly consumes large amounts of caffeine, the risk of infertility increases significantly. It is caffeine that can change hormonal levels, the activity of the fallopian tubes decreases, the level of oxytocin decreases, and negatively affects ovulation.
Therefore, when planning a pregnancy, both women and men, approximately 3 months before the expected conception, need to reduce not only the amount of coffee consumed, but also other products that contain caffeine. These products include chocolate, strong tea, cocoa and various types of energy drinks.
Caffeine is included as an excipient or main substance in certain medications. That is why you should always carefully study the composition and instructions of the product.
For more information about whether you can drink coffee during pregnancy, see the following video: